Re: <nettime> U.K. Anti-Terrorism Law Imperils Hackers, Privacy

[J=FCrgen_A=2E_Erhard <juergen.erhard@gmx.net>]

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>>>>> "Harsh" =3D=3D Harsh Kapoor <aiindex@mnet.fr> writes:

Just read this... after watching the news and hearing that George
W. is "patient" (me thinks: "Yes, because he's waiting for the US
population to be even more malleable... maybe he's waiting for another
terrorist attack.").  Then, the next item, that the FBI has
information about a planned next wave of terrorist attacks, presumably
for next weekend.  Bingo!

And then I read this...

    Harsh> http://www.cluebot.com/article.pl?sid=3D01/07/28/2336239&mode=3D=
nested
    Harsh>     U.K. Anti-Terrorism Law Imperils Hackers, Privacy
    Harsh>     posted by cicero on Saturday July 28, @06:34PM
    Harsh>     from the how-nice-that-hackers-are-covered-too dept.


    Harsh>     A U.K. law that took effect this year gives police far-rangi=
ng powers
    Harsh>     to make warrantless arrests, enter buildings without court o=
rders, and
    Harsh>     punish people for having information that could be useful to
    Harsh>     terrorists.

    Harsh>     The measure, called the Terrorism Act of 2000, received roya=
l assent
    Harsh>     in July 2000. It became law in February 2001.

[snipperoonio...]

    Harsh>     Americans, be warned. Congress is spending more and more tim=
e talking
    Harsh>     about bio-chem, Internet, and nuclear attacks. Soon you coul=
d be
    Harsh>     facing the same invasions of privacy and property.

Does this strike a chord?  For me, it strikes a power chord.  (Feel
like writing some hard-core punk song about it... which would still be
to weak for what I feel).

    Harsh>     "The legislation which gives the authorities extra
    Harsh>     powers should have to be renewed by parliament
    Harsh>     regularly rather than being permanent legislation.  The
    Harsh>     definition of terrorism is also far too wide, in spite
    Harsh>     of significant efforts by Liberal Democrats and others
    Harsh>     in parliament to improve it," Simon Hughes, Liberal
    Harsh>     Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, said in a
    Harsh>     statement.

Hey, at least some people are still rational... unfortunately, they
are a minority.

Honest, I fear for the future (I'm reminded of "Give me Liberty" by
Frank Miller... in a bad, a very bad way)

Bye, J

PS: I'm still thinking this through... a long posting might be
forthcoming.  One that a lot of people probably won't like (like the
U.S. administration).

--=20
      J=FCrgen A. Erhard  (juergen.erhard@gmx.net, jae@users.sf.net)
     MARS: http://members.tripod.com/Juergen_Erhard/mars_index.html
             Give a man fire and he will be warm for a day.
    Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life.

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